3.5 stars

Nothing says trouble like a reality tv star being arrested for murder. Nothing spells ratings like the lawyer representing her being a past lover. Nothing spells trouble like holes in an alibi and lack of proof...

But that isn't stopping the DA and it's only going to get worse.

Order of Protection is a new start to new series but don't fret too much, there are plenty of "visits" from familiar faces in the Lexi Blake universe.

Enjoy the muscled men of McKay- Taggert and their appearances. But don't think this legal office is lacking in the looks department either!I look forward to future installments.

This started out as a captivating read, though the steamy chemistry between the characters carried the story, just as the story picked up steam there were moments of disbelief. This had potential as the lead into a new series, I only hope the remaining stories are more believable.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Order of Protection is not my favorite Lexi Blake book. It is well written, with an intriguing plot and well drawn characters, but it lacks the charm and humor of the author’s Bliss and Masters and Mercenaries series. Maybe it just lacks Ian Taggart!

Taylor Winston-Hughes, famous as the heiress to a fortune and a reality tv show, is trying to leave that life behind-along with the anorexia that nearly claimed her life. So when she meets well known attorney Henry Garrison in his family’s house on the beach, she tells him she is Win Hughes, and they share a special time together. But Henry is the only person who can help her when she is charged with murder. He feels betrayed when he finds out who she really is and isn’t sure he should take her case. But circumstances throw them together for a long period of time-can he overcome his anger and free her both from the law and from the fears holding her back from a relationship?

While Win is an interesting character and very strong woman, I didn’t particularly like Henry and didn’t see what Win saw in him. Part of the problem is that they are both famous people, unlike the down to earth people we usually see from this author.

Having said that, this is still a good read filled with plot twists and turns, suspense, and a totally unexpected ending. A sub par book by Lexi Blake is still an outstanding book.

Order of Protection
Lexi Blake
Henry Garrison went back to the house he grew up in and had happy memories to sell it. It is very difficult for him. He meets Win Hughes on the beach after she falls and realizes she is different from the women he was used to. Both share secrets, Henry, that he is an alcoholic, and Win who she really is. During a party in New York, her best friend Brie is found murdered and Win is accused of it. It is then Henry finds out who she really is. Hating rich actresses because of his ex wife, he walks away from Win even though she was the best thing that ever happened to him. After she is arrested, he still feels protective of her and has his team work on her defense and finding the actual killer.
I enjoyed this book. This is Henry’s story whom we met in the first book of the Lawless series. There is also the connection of the youngest Lawless, Noah, working for Henry’s firm. Henry has to make a decision. Will he choose Win over everything else or will continue with his empty life? There are some twists and turns throughout this story that makes it a real page turner. I recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense.

Omg, I have to start off by saying I LOVED this book. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, and was immediately sucked into the story and did not want to stop reading.

Order of Protection follows Win, a wealthy reality star who is accused of murdering her best friend, and Henry, who was a well respected lawyer until his divorce put him all over the news. The two first met on the beach where they have a summer fling, but meet again when Win needs a lawyer to represent her.

"Win wanted nothing more than to find home again, and for her, it wasn't a place. Home was a person, a person she shared not a drop of blood with."

The chemistry between the main characters was amazing, I felt the angst and I felt the chemistry, and I LOVED IT. Not only was their romance fantastic, but I thought the characters felt very realistic (minus the part where they're hella wealthy) and down to earth people.

This novel also deals with some serious topics. Win is struggling with recovery from an eating disorder, and Henry is a recovering alcoholic. I thought both were handled really well. They were also portrayed realistically, especially when the characters were dealing with stress and had to worry about backsliding. There was also an example of toxic friendship, and described how harmful they can be and how difficult it can be to end the friendship.

"'Of course,' David agreed. 'She's just another client. You carry them all when they're sick. i remember the time that accused arsonist had a tummy flu and you cradled him gently in your arms.'"

One of my favorite aspects of the book is how Win stands up for herself. Sometimes Henry is demanding, but she doesn't give in and instead calls him out on it. Henry is a powerful man, not in a toxic way, but when they're in a stressful situation he tends to take over and it can be a little much. When he gets to this point, Win is not afraid to call him out and let him know that he's gone too far. 

Overall I really loved this book, and can't wait to read more of Lexi Blake's writing, and I especially can't wait for the next book in the series!

Have you read Order of Protection, did you enjoy it as much as I did?

Lexi Blake never fails to suck you in with her uber alpha men and sassy strong heroines. Order of Protection has those in spades. The sizzling chemistry between Henry and Win is enough to keep me entertained and glued to its pages.

This story was made up of flawed, relatable characters. The reader becomes invested in the main characters right away. Their struggles are real and add depth to the over-all story. The plot was well developed and the enjoyable to read. The reader will laugh, they will cry, and they will be happy with the ending. This was a very good contemporary romance.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

Win Hughes has it all, or so it seems. She's the poster child for the poor little rich girl. Orphaned at a young age when her parents’ boat sunk during a storm, she was the sole survivor and the heir to their fortune. Taken in by her uncle and raised by a nanny, Win's childhood wasn't terrible. She didn't haven't the typical two parent household, but she knew she was loved.

A mistake in her 20s and a turn on reality TV led to a stay at a state of the art rehab facility in Sweden to help her combat anorexia. Being back in the states, her friends are pressuring her to return the reality TV world and she knows if she goes back down that path, her health will suffer.

Henry Garrison had it all. He was an outstanding attorney who prided himself on being the best. Until he married an actress and lost everything, including his pride and his sobriety. Now, struggling with his sobriety, he's on Martha's Vineyard to pack up his grandparents’ home and make a fresh start in New York with two new law partners.

A chance meeting with Win and there's something about her that pulls to him. Henry doesn't know about her past and she's happy to keep it that way. She knows that if she tells him who she is, he will walk away from her because he doesn't want anything to do with Hollywood life, even if the connection is tangible. Their brief affair over, they part ways.

A horrible crime is committed, and Win is accused of murder. The only person who can save her is Henry but once he finds out that Win lied to him, he wants no part of representing her.

I enjoyed this book, but I think the relationship between Henry and his partners could have been fleshed out a little more to set up the next book in the series.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is beguiling romantic suspense full of secrets and unpredictable twists. An affair between a disgraced New York lawyer and a society queen in hiding becomes something more when he is hired to defend her against a murder charge.

Part Gossip Girl and part Suits, this is a story of high society family alliances, complicated legal wranglings, and far too many long-held secrets. To clear Win, Henry and his legal team must find the actual murderer. The mystery aspect of this story is genuinely frightening at times. I loved the dropped clues and there are a few brilliant action scenes at the end.

While the murder investigation was exciting and well plotted, I didn’t love the romance in the story. There were too many implausible moments where Win was willing to compromise the investigation because of a crush. And for a lawyer trying to reestablish his reputation, Henry’s feelings for Win completely jeopardise his professional standing.

I usually love Lexi Blake’s women, but Win is easily the least interesting heroine I’ve read by this author. The former reality TV star is nice but she’s also too passive and too helpless for my liking. Henry feels like a compilation of several alpha male tropes and he is far too young for half of his life story to be believable.

I’m a longtime fan of Lexi Blake’s urban fantasy books but this is my first contemporary romantic thriller. And honestly, I prefer Blake’s urban fantasy. While I enjoyed the murder mystery/thriller aspects of this book, I struggled with some of the contemporary romance tropes. Win is a much more vulnerable and needy character than Zoey in the Thieves books or Kelsey in the Hunter stories. I get that the character development across a single novel was never going to be as effective as it is with characters developed across a series. And I get that urban fantasy allows for powerful female characters who can be so much more than typical contemporary romance heroines. So, my reaction is just preference. This is an exciting and well-crafted romantic suspense story but it lacks the depth I love in Blake’s urban fantasy.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Anyone who has read a Lexi Blake book before will be delighted to know that this is the start of another great series! With a few nods to previous series, which I think keep us loyal followers happy and secures the novel in a time and place, we are straight into the drama from page one.

I loved the two leads and their issues, which ensure we see them as humans first and as what they own and have done second. Their addictions may be very different, but they somehow make them perfect for each other... but I get ahead of myself, this is not an easily tied up romance. This is gritty, difficult, and intense. There is danger, intrigue, and a real legal mystery to solve, let alone the consequences following on from omitting the small issue of one's identity. Not as complicated as the Masters and Mercenaries series – crime more than espionage – but definitely a page turner with lots of indications of new storylines being in our future – I cannot wait.

Blake has a wonderfully flowing and enticing writing style, nearly as smooth as her leading men, and as intense as her strong, leading women. There are a number of great side characters here, which I am looking forward to meeting again.

This book started very slow, but interesting.  I liked the idea of Henry Garrison as I started reading about him.  A man who rose to the heights of fame and fortune, married to a Hollywood actress, then hit bottom.  His arrogance and pride, excess spending, alcoholism, and a wife who was a piranha, all conspired and took him down.  He got so deep he lost everything and had to sell his most prized possession: the house his grandparents left him in Martha’s Vineyard.  He used to be a successful criminal lawyer, nicknamed the Monster of Manhattan.  Now he relies on the charity of a previous client to fund his new firm, and had to accept two partners to help him get out of the hole he dug himself into.  He seemed the kind of yummy character with lots of meat, lots of issues to work with and the author did a great job with him. 

Win Hughes only wants to be a normal person and to live a normal life, working on the charity foundation her parents had started before she was born.  However, she really was Taylor Winston-Hughes, a billionaire heiress who has recently returned from rehab.  She was anorexic, due to getting involved in the wrong crowd and lost herself in the crazy world she was thrust into.  Her life-long friend Brie is the one who got her into a reality show that robbed Win of her will and self-control.

One thing I liked in this book was that the author related alcoholism and anorexia: both illnesses have to do with control.  In anorexia, Win took control over the only aspect of her life she had at the time.  Alcoholism came to Henry because he was so into control that he needed the drink to lose the control and be able to let go, to just be.  

Henry and Win met on the beach and had an idyllic two weeks together before they both went back to reality, each left to their separate lives.  Henry didn’t learn the real identity of his lover until she was accused of murder and his firm retained as her defense counsel.  To say he felt betrayed by Win, especially after his ex-wife’s antics, was too little.  He was incensed but he took the case because it could be his means to make it back into the Manhattan scene.

From here on,  the story kept gathering speed and force and more intrigue.  Henry had a hard time dealing with his anger, his disappointment and his growing attraction to Win.  Win was already lost in love with Henry.  First she was needy and weepy, then she transitioned into the self-assured and intelligent woman Henry first met.  Henry went back to being the Monster of Manhattan, but this time with feeling and more honesty.  He was not all about the money now, he now cared about his client.  He and Win and his partners and associated staff all worked hard to unravel the very gnarled story of a whodunit, all fueled by the lust for money. 

It was a great read, a nicely complicated couple, a story that gathered speed and complexity as the plot develops and very intriguing.  The love story part was also very yummy, with two strong characters who had issues the kept them apart, yet they felt just right together. Kept me glued to the story until finished.  Totally recommend!

I have enjoyed Lexi Blake books before so and I was excited for this new read.
Henry is the"monster of Manhattan", the shark of a lawyer who is recovering from being a alcoholic. He went through a public divorce and all he wants is to get away to his hometown. He catches Win, a reality show star who is trying to recover from her demons, literally while she was running on the beach and from that first meeting I could tell I would love this couple.

Two hurt souls trying to heal each while not harboring secrets from each other plus an electrical storm and you get two weeks of magic and bliss that they both needed so desperately. But now, the vacation is over and it's back to the real world with the agreement to go their separate ways but the universe has other plans for them. Forced together again when Win is accused of murder the sparks pick right back up where they thought they left them as Henry tries to keep it professional between them and clear her name, all of that along with a twist that you don't see coming this book was a winner!

I Loved it, this was another hit Lexi!!!

Order of Protection started out slow for me but then grew into a great story. It had murder, suspense, and a hot couple. Normally I don’t go for these sorts of books but I’m glad that I gave this one a try.

I will start off by saying that I thought that Henry was a huge jerk. He seemed to want be the boss of everything and never gave Win a shot at being the brains of the operation. She was an intelligent woman and I thought that he was overwhelming her. However, once I started to learn more about him I saw how he balanced Win. And that is the key to any good romance, the couple has to compliment each other.

The who done it part of the story definitely had me trying to put the pieces together. Although, I did manage to figure out who it was that killed Brie, I wasn’t prepared for the twist Lexi Blake threw at me. The killer definitely isn’t in the background and some side story that gets lost. Lexi makes sure to tie any loose ends up.

This book is the first in the series. I am curious to see what characters will be getting their own books because quite honestly there are a lot to chose from this book. I am kind of hoping that Noah, one of the strong secondary characters in this book will get his own story.

I read this book weeks ago and I had to read the synopsis again to refresh my memory. While I was reading it, a big smile started to crack my face. Then I remembered this book. This book. Oh my god. This book. LOL

I have not read a mystery book, or if I already have, then I don’t remember reading one. But I guess this book has a mystery element to it. I don’t want to share anything because I’m afraid to spoil something. Believe me, this book is goooood.

Read it. The plot twists are endless.

Order of Protection is a sexy contemporary that feature two lost souls with trust issues. Henry is rebuilding his life after a disastrous marriage and a stint in rehab for alcohol abuse. Win has other issues including eating issues. These two are terrific together if they can get past their issues. I really enjoyed this fast paced, steamy story.

At the beginning was not that intrigue with the story after a couple of chapters the book did begin to get interesting. I didn't expect the mystery and the amount of angst. It was captivated me to read the book instead of skipping through most of it.

Henry the smart alpha male, but he is not trusting of people that come from a privileged
background due to past relationships.

Win is very trusting and because of that she is not able to see who has her best interest at heart. She was driven and determine to have Henry and didn't back down from him. It would have been nice if she was more assertive in other areas of her life.

I loved the mystery and the angst more than the romance relationship between Henry and Win. The relationship building was ok, I didn't really see where the attraction was between them.

Towards the end of the book there was a huge revelation that wasn't expected. It was a nice turn that I never saw coming until it slapped me in the face.

Overral the books was an ok read.

Just coming off of a rotten divorce, high end defense attorney Henry Garrison is spending a few weeks at his childhood beach home in Martha’s Vineyard. He’s packing up in order to sell off the property to help fund his law practice that’s been dragged through the mud, along with his name, by his ex-wife. Seeking an escape from the bottle of scotch tempting him, Henry instead rescues a young woman he finds to be beautiful, genuine and innocent from the storm about to ravage the beach.

Win Hughes is making a new start. Having battled anorexia, she no longer wants to be known as Taylor Winston Hughes, reality tv star and the Billion-Dollar Baby – sole survivor of the tragic accident that killed her parents. She simply wants to go to graduate school, stay healthy and run the foundation started by her parents that supports underprivileged hospitals and patients. She wasn’t expecting Henry and knew they had a few short weeks at best, but couldn’t seem to stay away. She also didn’t tell him about her past . . . only who she is and wants to be.

When Henry receives a call that the girl he fell for on Martha’s Vineyard has been arrested for the murder of her best friend, he doesn’t know what to think. He’s devastated she lied, but also can’t refuse the case as it may finally bring his law firm back from his ruined reputation.

As Henry and his team are pulled deeper into the case, it’s up to Henry to find the real killer and keep Win safe. Can he do it without losing his heart to her? And, can Win convince Henry that she is the girl from the beach and done with the celebrity life forever? Both Henry and Win are in the fights of their lives . . . but will Henry realize the prize he has before he walks away for good or will Win’s determination blow his defenses out of the water?

To say I was thrilled that Lexi Blake was releasing a new series may be the understatement of the year.

First, I truly fell in love with Win. She is an extraordinarily strong woman who really tries to see the best in everyone, even when she shouldn’t. I love how she knows what she needs to do to make herself healthy and happy and goes for it. She rolls with the punches and deals with everything life has thrown at her. Most people would be crying in a corner, but Win pulls herself together and overcomes.

Henry’s character was also complex. That man has more demons than a haunted house, yet can’t seem to fight his attraction to Win even when he wants to. He’s a bulldog when chasing a case and even when he’s struggling to trust in who she is, I never doubted he would do everything he could to save Win from the murder charge thrown at her. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him grow emotionally throughout this book.

As always, Lexi has also provided readers with an amazing cast of side characters . . . my favorites being Noah Lawless (fans of the Lawless series can rejoice) and Henry’s ex-wife Alicia. Along with the phenomenal cast of characters the plot has more twists and turns than an entire amusement park. It’s a wonderful “who done it” and I found myself constantly searching the clues and evidence as Henry’s team dug it up to discover who the real killer was along with their motive. And, I’m not ashamed to admit that I didn’t figure it out until Lexi did her reveal, which made for a completely thrilling and engrossing plot!

5 Stars for Order of Protection. This series started off with a bang and I can’t wait to see what Lexi Blake has in store next for readers!

What more can I say than this blurb doesn’t give us already! Lexi has packed so much into this book, and it was a very enjoyable read for me. Henry and Win are likeable characters and I found myself truly getting invested in the outcomes of their story. They are both passionate, and very desperate for one another. What he doesn’t expect is to learn her true identity the way he does. This book is packed with so much angst and suspense, it’s truly a romantic suspense! Twists around ever turn and as he makes his decision on what to do with this case he finds himself involved in, his mind and heart are torn on what to do. Help himself, or help the love of his life.

Order of Protection by Lexi Blake is the first book in her brand new series Courting Justice. Lexi Blake is one of my go to authors and I was giddy to get my hands on theis book. And what can I say, she didn't disappoint me.

Henry Garrison is a former successful attorney, driven, divorced and about to start over. He has demons and issues, and he isn't called The Monster of Manhattan for nothing.

Win Hughes is a sweet 29 year old woman. She's the heir to an empire. Win is a soft and warm soul, but she keeps secrets from Henry too. Both have a short relationship. When Win needs counseling, Henry is her lawyer, only he acts like a horse-behind.

Order of Protection is a rollercoaster of action, drama and more. Nothing is as it seems and I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.
There's a battered hero, a strong heroine and villains that made me lough and angry at some point.
All in all I enjoyed reading this story and give 4 stars.

This is classic Lexi Blake and I love it. Order of Protection jumps right off the pages from the get go, as we learn about Henry and then Win. I really loved how she gave us so much of Henry just from those first few pages, I pretty much fell in love with him instantly, much like Win, though I will say it didn't stay that way through out the book. Dear sweet Henry has a bad habit of falling back on...well bad habits, mainly a bad attitude. He was/is called the Monster of Manhattan for a reason and just when you think that man is gone he shows back up with force. Luckily for us readers we have Win who doesn't have a problem putting him right back in the place he belongs, bringing us right back to the sweet broken Henry we meet in the beginning.

I loved Win, she is a fighter. She is spit and vinegar but sugar and spice all rolled in to one. I loved her strength and her ability to keep it together even when she seems at the end of her rope. I will say in the beginning I was a bit taken aback by her forwardness and her straight up honesty, but it grows on you and you really start to admire her for those traits. She's the girl you want at your back during any 'fight'.

I really enjoyed the suspense that Lexi always brings to her books. It's not always 'OH MY GAH' I can't believe that just happened suspense, you'll figure some things out fairly quickly but others will take you by surprise in the best kind of ways. I love that there is always the romance with a good does of action and drama in a Lexi Blake book and she definitely brings it here in Order of Protection. She also has a way to really pull us into these characters lives, she makes them real, she gives them honest emotions, honest baggage. They fight inner demons and personal battles that make them all that more relatable and likable. I love how her characters always become a part of your family well before you close the final page on one of her books.

I am also really looking forward to more in this series. I am very curious about David, the Ex-NFL player and Noah...a Lawless, I do love that Lawless family and was so excited when his name can across the pages. I think that Lexi has another winner with her Courting Justice series and I hope that you'll pick it up and give it a try. You do not have to have read the Lawless series to start this one. It is a bit of a crossover with the characters but storylines aren't blurred or confusing if you haven't read them.

Henry Garrison’s life has gone to hell in a handbasket courtesy of his A-List actress wife. The king of the courtroom loses his crown and is forced to start from scratch to salvage what’s left of his legal career.

Taylor Winston Hughes is the poor little rich girl. A reality show star who dumbs herself down for the camera until it almost kills her.

These two – they both have junk to hide. Strangers using each other’s bodies to momentarily forget their personal pain. A beautiful girl and a Sexy older man, what can possibly go wrong? An easy breezy affair and then they can each go their own way.

Except for a little problem called murder. Taylor’s best friend is dead and the prime suspect? You guessed it! Taylor. Only lawyer that can get her out of life in prison apparently is Henry.

Order of Protection dragged for me until almost halfway into it. The sexual chemistry between these two is on point. At times, I did find myself thinking that certain aspects of the story didn’t make sense to me. Yet the murder mystery of it was well written which kept me reading until the end.

Fans of Lexi’s previous series (Masters / Lawless) will get a big kick out of the character cameos sprinkled throughout. Being a fan of Lexi Ryan’s writing, I have high hopes for Book #2.

Another amazing book from Lexi Blake! You will recognize a lot of her other series characters that make appearances like the Lawless family for one. I love when authors have multiple series' out and find a way to tie them all or at least have characters appear in the other series. It helps me with the world building. Plus a new Lexi Blake series?? I'm SO there!!!

I love Win and her personality. She was done being a reality TV star with her friends and what it meant to be, especially since that wasn't her at all. When she met Henry, he didn't know who she was and she loved that. She liked being anonymous (sorta) and not living in the spotlight and as fodder for the tabloids.

This story has all the Lexi Blake goodness you've come to expect but also is different because it's delving into the world of reality TV, which I know can be daunting. I can't wait to read more of this series!!!